Far East Branch - City

The Lovely Lindow-Luring Lineup, unsurprisingly, ended in failure. While the group was able to collect a number of useful resources, the true target of the mission remained unfound. It seemed that lovely ladies weren't enough to bring their Ex-Corporal out of hiding after all, much to Kota's dismay. Not one to stay discouraged for long, the gunner had quickly recovered, and even gone so far as to suggest a Lovely Lindow-Luring Lineup Round 2. Naturally, the suggestion met so much resistance that the plan was quickly scrapped in favor of a different strategy.

But it was no use.

The search for Lindow was going far more poorly than everyone had imagined, and God Eaters were beginning to lose morale. Even Tatsumi was starting to feel the effects, growing depressed on some days from their lack of success. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Units remained in constant motion, their search and rescue efforts running them ragged. In order to prevent complete and utter burnout, members were eventually set into rotations, forcing them to take time off in between their shifts.

The 1st Unit remained on combat duty, taking on opponent after opponent, mission after mission. Neo continued her rampage, deploying for missions both with and without the help of her fellow God Eaters. Whenever confronted about her solo escapades, she simply informed them that Ren had accompanied her, only further adding to Soma and Ichiro's concerns. In addition to her growing bloodthirst, her feeding had grown more prevalent as well, her body requiring more and more Oracle energy as she freely used her elemental skills in combat.

And the troubles didn't end there.

Lindow's God Arc was in need of repairs, with the aim of having the weapon functional and ready upon his return. In order to do so, Dr. Sakaki and Licca requested a Raven Great Wing among a few other materials for the maintenance. Thankfully, this time, they knew exactly where to find them. They had last been seen in the Old City, which was primarily Vajra territory. Unfortunately, it had also become Hannibal territory in recent days, with the latter currently standing in the way of their resource collection.

It seemed that, for once, Neo's endless hunger for bloodshed would prove useful as this would undoubtedly be a battle for the ages. Which was precisely why every one of them were startled by her refusal.

Upon locating the New Type, the trio were surprised to find her, once again, nicely put together in attire far better suited to a rendezvous than a rumble. Her strapless violet dress nearly matched the shade of her locks with a fitted center and flaring bottom. The hem stopped just above the knees, leaving her legs exposed all the way down to her strapless heels. Her azure scarf had been carefully rewrapped to hide the base of her appendages, dipping over her shoulder blades like a shawl. Her hands were covered, as was commonplace, with a pair of matching violet gloves.

Such an ensemble could only mean one thing: she was going out with Gunter. And naturally, the two veterans weren't happy about it. Soma had shown particular aggravation at the idea. Gunter's reputation was bad enough, but at this point, he was growing increasingly concerned with how strongly the New Type was responding to him. Despite all ferocious appearances, Neo was a sensitive person and, at the moment, emotionally fragile. The idea of that womanizer toying with her heartstrings made his blood boil but, as her guardian had pointed out multiple times, there was little that either of them could do about it.

Any and all attempts at controlling or caging Neo would only end with her resistance and trying to warn her was both pointless and impossible. She was incredibly dense in the way of human interactions and wouldn't understand the situation even if they tried to explain it to her. The concept of playboys and conquests was far beyond her, and chances were Gunter would never even make it that far in the first place. The fact that he was even still trying with her was nothing short of a miracle.

Regardless, there was nothing more to be done than wish her well on her outing before leaving to find another member to replace her.

After leaving her teammates, Neo located her companion for the evening shortly thereafter and left with him to engage in whatever activities he had planned. The two made their way through the city, enjoying the evening air. They wandered the town, enjoyed a nice meal, and eventually found themselves relaxing outside gazing up at the stars. The two chatted quietly side by side under the moonlight, occasionally sharing in laughter. Or in Neo's case, a light chuckle, as that was the most that Gunter could ever get out of her.

He couldn't help but notice the level of self-control that she displayed around him, so much different from how she behaved with her teammate. Gunter would be lying if he said that the idea didn't irritate him, although it probably shouldn't. As far as he had learned, the two of them had arrived at the same time in the Far East from the North American Branch. It was likely that the pair had known each other long before their transfer, and possibly since their youth. It only made sense that she would be more comfortable around Ichiro than himself.

Yet still, he was bothered by it. Bothered by her resistance to him. Even worse, he wasn't exactly sure why. It was true that he enjoyed a challenge, but this had gone far beyond his usual limits. Neo was making him work to the bone and, at this point, he couldn't tell whether she was incredibly hard to get or just plain disinterested. Otto had made a crude comment at one point, noting that virgins tended to hold out the longest, but Gunter didn't believe that to be the case. This wasn't the behavior of a woman defending her chastity. She was evading him, keeping him constantly at arms' length. It was almost like she was afraid… but of what, he didn't know.

"Gunter."

"Hmm?" His head lowered, turning his gaze from the starlight to the woman sitting calmly beside him.

"I have a question."

"I might have an answer."

She smirked at his response, once again avoiding a full smile. "Why do you hide?"

"Eh? Hehe… I uh… thought I was being pretty forward, to be honest."

Neo shook her head, disregard his pseudo-jest. "Why do you hide your strength?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"I saw you at Thor's Banquet. You're very strong."

A quiet huff escaped him, a look of surprise suddenly gracing his features. After a moment, he recovered, returning to his playful demeanor. "Strong, huh? In your eyes? That's one hell of a compliment."

"It's the truth. Your current ranking is woefully inaccurate."

"My, my. Are you suggesting that I should go for the crown?"

"Not even close. Ichi would kick your ass from this week into the next."

"Ouch…" Gunter winced slightly at her violent jab. She certainly pulled no punches.

Sighing, Neo sat up, turning her full attention to him. "My point is that someone like you should be on the Retaliation Squad. Why settle for the Defense?"

His eyebrows lifted slightly, understanding finally washing over him. Now her line of questioning made sense. Shaking his head, he lowered his eyes. "I didn't settle. I insisted on it."

Neo tilted her head, confusion evident on her features. He had insisted on it? What an unusual thing to do.

At the curious expression on her face, his jovial expression slowly vanished. His voice grew atypically serious, lowering from its flirtatious lilt. All coyness was gone as he stared forward into a faraway place. "Your assumption isn't wrong. When I first transferred to the Far East, I was assigned to join the 1st Unit."

"Yet you didn't. Why?"

"Honestly…? I thought my power was better served protecting others."

"Destroying the Aragami is protecting others."

Once again, Gunter shook his head. "No, that's - okay. Take The Great Barrier Breach, for example." Neo nodded, silently urging him to continue. "When the alarm sounded, we were sent to answer the call. And we did. Tatsumi and Brendan took point on that one, keeping the Aragami at bay. My sector aided in the search and rescue operation. One of the families we evacuated was a mother and daughter. They are alive today because I was able to do something. If someone like that had been there that day -" His words halted suddenly, bringing his explanation to a screeching halt.

Neo frowned as he silenced himself, understanding slowly dawning on her. The hitch in his breath hadn't escaped her. Nor did the look in his eyes as he quieted. It was an expression that she was all too familiar with. Pain. "…You lost someone, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?" She asked, regretting it instantly at the look on his face. Her question was thoughtless. Shaking her head, she backpedaled. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Gunter remained still for a few moments, contemplating his next move. Then, he waved it off with a tired grin. "No, it's alright. I've held onto this long enough." With a silent nod, Neo shifted her weight. She turned her hips to better face him, offering her undivided attention. "When I was in Germany… we used to live in the Outer Ghetto, near the Wall. It was springtime and I was on a short leave. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce Alma to my parents."

"Alma?"

"My girlfriend at the time."

Neo slowly nodded her head in understanding.

"I had to go on assignment. Fenrir dragged me into the field for an emergency mission, some kind of rare find. I didn't really want to do it, but I figured it couldn't take more than a few hours. Alma stayed with them, and I ran off to take care of business." Bitterness seeped into every word as he recounted his tale. "It was an easy mission, just like I figured. We were back before dinnertime. But when we arrived… I heard the alarm."

"The Aragami alarm?"

"Yeah. There'd been a breach, and the Aragami had broken through. See, at the time, our Branch's defenses were poor. We had a Defense Unit, but nothing like the Far East. I didn't even wait for the truck to stop. I just grabbed my God Arc and ran straight for the Wall. They were everywhere. I was able to help subdue the threat, but… by the time I found them, they were already… she was…"

Neo's expression darkened, her gloved hand gently laying over his own. She could hear the agony in his voice. It was strange to see Gunter like this. So saddened. So vulnerable. "…I'm sorry."

Gunter smiled, his eyes drifting down to her hand. "It's not your fault. It was mine. If I had been there… I could have protected them."

"Defense wasn't your mission. You can't blame yourself for following orders." Her fingers gently squeezed his own. Neo knew better than anyone that their organization didn't ask. The burns on her neck served as a permanent reminder that Fenrir's word was absolute.

But Gunter only sighed. "I know… and that's why, when I transferred, I was determined to join the 2nd Unit. I couldn't save them, but… I can spare others the same pain."

Neo nodded, her eyes watching him carefully. She had come to know this man as a pillar of confidence. A free spirit without a care in the world. But like everyone else in this Gods' forsaken world, Gunter bore his own scars… and that had never been more evident than in this moment. As she pondered the thought, her mind slowly drifted to Thor's Banquet and the words he had spoken to her.

I've got a score to settle.

The pain had been so evident in his voice then. The seething malice in his eyes raged like wildfire. And now, Neo finally understood.

"That's why you hate them, isn't it? The Vajra."

"With every fiber of my being."

Neo flinched at the disdain in his voice. She couldn't blame him for his feelings. But it didn't make the words hurt any less.

"Hehe…" A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he returned her gesture, squeezing her gloved hand. Then, in an instant, the pain was gone, locked away in a dark place deep beneath the surface. "Anyway. The past is the past. Nowadays, I try to focus only on the present."

"Understandable." Neo replied, choosing not to press him further. He was masking, she knew. It was a practice she used often.

"That being said… now, I have something to ask you."

"Ask."

"I've given you my reasons. Now I'd like to hear yours. Tell me Neo… why do you hide?"

"I don't hide."

Smiling, Gunter gently laced her fingers with his own. "It's okay. It's just you and me here." Neo said nothing, her eyes lowering to her lap. He could tell that she was unsure. Unwilling to risk saying the wrong thing. "Look, Ichiro… he told me everything. You know, about your power."

Neo's eyes shot up immediately, her gaze locking pointedly with his own. He could see the apprehension in her gaze. She was watching him, evaluating him, analyzing a threat.

Gunter quickly waved his free hand in appeasement. "Don't worry, I've taken a vow of silence." And just like that, Neo's tension waned. It seemed that he had been correct in his assumptions. "I gotta say though, you New Types are on a whole other level."

So that was his angle. Her guardian had misguided him on the source of her ability. It was an intelligent decision on his part and Neo was grateful for it. But her brows furrowed slightly at his excitement. "You're not afraid?"

He shrugged. "Well, it certainly caught me off guard, that's for sure. But no. I wouldn't say it frightened me. To be honest, it's actually kind of cool… and immensely beneficial."

"It's also dangerous." Neo countered, highlighting the fact that Gunter himself had been nearly electrocuted by that same discharge.

"Only if you get in the way… which, of course, I almost did." He offered her a sheepish grin, earning a quiet chortle from the woman next to him. It wasn't quite a smile, but he was making progress. Curious, he let go of her hand and turned to face her completely. "So, how does that work anyway? Is it some form of a counterstrike, or can you actually control it?"

Her eyes slowly blinked, scanning his eyes for any hint of deceit. Strangely, she found none. Just genuine curiosity. He really wasn't concerned with her ability. Only fascinated by it. And if he already knew, there was little harm in showing it to him. Slowly, Neo lifted her hand to the side, keeping a careful distance.

Gunter watched in amazement as her fingers began to twitch. He could hear the buzzing of static as sparks danced along her azure scarf, traveling down her arm and to her outstretched hand. He could see the light dancing across the fabric as she channeled, directing the current through her fingertips. Then, it was gone.

With her demonstration finished, his mouth pulled into an astonished smile. "That is literally the most incredible thing I've ever seen in my life."

"You're exaggerating."

"I'm really not. Neo, think about it. Imagine if all God Eaters could use something like this. It could really turn the tide. I just don't understand why you keep it hidden away."

"That's none of your concern."

Gunter grimaced slightly at her snappy tone. Neo was always like this, her mood ebbing and flowing like a winding river. He watched her for a moment, frowning in silence. Then finally, his frown pulled into a smirk. "See? You're hiding again."

Neo gave no response, her eyes narrowing as she started to recoil from him. He recognized this routine as well. She was pushing him away, like she so often did. The New Type always became nervous whenever he started getting too close. It was simply her way. But Gunter had no intention of letting that happen. This time, he was determined to break through her defensive wall. "I know it isn't my business… but still -"

"It has nothing to do with you." She snapped, her eyes hardening into a glare as he continued to press forward.

Gunter paused, taking note of her aggression. She was growing aggravated. It meant that soon, Neo would enter the second stage of her routine. Anger. He was prepared for it, and fully expected her to lash out. But he didn't back down. Instead, he pushed gently onward. "You hide so much of yourself, and you don't need to."

"Look, back off. Why are you so worried about this?"

And there it was. Still, he didn't falter, carefully taking her hand. He was fully aware that she could zap him at any moment should she so choose. And that was a risk that, alarmingly, he was willing to take. "Because… it's a part of you."

"What is?"

"Everything." He responded, slowly lifting his hand to her face. "Your personality, your power, your blue scarf that you always wear, your violet hair… your eye." He felt her body tense, going rigid at the mention of her hidden iris. "I saw it… during Thor's Banquet. Your patch came off."

His fingers wove through her locks, gently fiddling with the string. "Why do you cover it?"

"That's -"

"Personal, I know." Gunter finished her sentence, unsurprised by her response. "But it's just the two of us tonight… and I would love to get closer look. If… that's alright with you."

Closing her lids, the New Type remained tense but said nothing. He paused, halting his movements as he examined her features. She was unsure, he could tell. But she wasn't stopping him. Slowly, he carefully loosened the ties, eyeing her for any sudden movements. She made none, her body remaining perfectly still as he lifted the fabric from her face. He felt her flinch beneath his fingers as he made contact with the skin, gingerly moving her bangs aside.

Slowly… cautiously, she opened her eyes. His emerald gaze locked with her heterochromatic one. The iris was fascinating to him, vibrant and gold with an ominous hue. He wondered for a moment if it was glowing. It wouldn't surprise him at this point, as had just watched her wield electricity only moments ago. Perhaps there was a connection between the two. He didn't know, but it intrigued him to no end. By far, the strangest thing about them was the shape of her pupils. They looked almost no different than any other person's, but something about them stood out to him. He felt like he had seen that golden gaze before. It almost looked like…

"You're staring." Neo's voice tore him from his thoughts, reminding him of what he was doing.

Realizing his blunder, he smiled nervously. "Sorry."

"I'm used to it. Most people do. It's unnerving, I know."

Gunter blinked, baffled that she would think such a thing. "Unnerving? No, Neo, they're… beautiful. All of you is."

"Eh?" Her saddened expression vanished, replaced by a befuddled one. She had only ever heard one other person compliment her eyes in such a way.

"Hehe… see? Even the way you tilt your head when you're confused… it's endearing."

"Is it?" Neo grew even more perplexed, his every word making her mind reel.

"Sure it is."

"Most people think I'm strange."

Gunter chuckled softly, keeping his focus on her eyes. "Maybe a little. But you're also unique. Everything about you is so…"

Neo was stunned. Never once in her life had she heard such words from anyone other than her guardian. To hear them was foreign and confusing, yet oddly enjoyable. She tensed, halting her lips from smiling too widely. Although part of her wondered if he would feel the same way about her if he knew the truth of her unique features. If he saw her claws. Her fangs. If he knew the truth about the blue trails wrapped carefully around her neck.

It was at that moment that she became acutely aware of their proximity to one another. How long had she been looking into his own emerald pools? When had he gotten so close to her, and why? Wait… could this be?

Her lids fluttered closed in preparation for whatever was to come. Then, she felt something warm and soft press against her lips. It was a strange feeling, but not entirely unwelcome. She relaxed her tension as she came to realization. Alisa had mentioned something like this during her questioning. It was something that couples do. She had called it… a kiss.

She couldn't say that she disliked the feeling, but she was unsure of what to do. With nothing further to reference than textbook explanation, the New Type decided to copy him, reciprocating the action. She could feel his lips moving against her own as she returned his gesture. Was he smiling? Was she? Neo didn't know. All she knew was that the feelings engulfing her were unlike any she had ever experienced.

Then, it was gone. Oddly, it was he who pulled away first, his face bearing an expression she couldn't quite identify. Had she done something wrong? Her fingers subconsciously raised to her lips, wondering if perhaps he had felt her fangs. "…Gunter?" She received no response.

His mind was reeling as countless thoughts fired through his brain. It had been meant as a simple gesture. Something routine and thoughtless… but it wasn't. From the moment their lips touched, he felt a sensation that he couldn't even hope to describe. Something warm and pleasant that he hadn't felt in a very long time. His heart hammered in his chest and sparks coursed through every inch of his body. He couldn't tell whether it was his own feeling or the woman herself. Only that he wasn't ready for it.

All Neo could do was observe him as his face rotated through a series of different emotions. She didn't really recognize most of them, but the ones she did, she was very familiar with. Confusion. Uncertainty. Fear. With a bitter smile, Neo shook her bangs back into place. "Heh… I know that look."

The hollow ring in her voice snapped him back into the present. The world came into focus, along with the woman in front of him whose face bore a bitter expression. "What? N-No! That isn't…"

"It's okay. It just means you see what everyone else does."

"Would you stop it?" His hand slid downward from her cheek, gently grasping her chin to halt her retreat. "Neo, you are an incredible woman. You're strong, you're smart, you're fierce. Sure, you're a little odd, but it's part of your charm. I've never met anyone like you. That's why I…" Gunter paused, as realization began to gnaw at him. What had he meant to say?

In that moment, he grew truly unsettled as he found that Neo was right. Gunter was afraid. But not of her. He was afraid of the way she made him feel. For the first time since that day, he could feel. No longer was he going through the motions, searching for the next wild ride. There was something there. Something that called to him from the very pit of his soul… and it terrified him.

Suddenly, he realized that the woman was still staring at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence. He didn't know what to do. This was too much. It wasn't supposed to have gotten this far. He needed to distance himself from her. He needed a distraction.

With a calming breath, Gunter recovered. His face shifted back into a playful grin, mind switching gears as he altered his trajectory."… have something for you." Moving away from her, he reached behind him into his bag.

"For me?"

"Mm-hmm. Karel got this in a little while ago. I think you'll enjoy it."

Neo nodded. She didn't know what he had in store for her, but hopefully, it was something delicious.

. . .

Far East Branch - Lobby

Ichiro sighed, resting against the lobby sofa. His eyes drifted to the violet fabric, further reminding him that Neo was still missing. It wasn't like her to stay out for this long, let alone in heels of any kind. Where was she? His thoughts paused as a navy blue mass appeared in his periphery. He didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"Soma."

"Hamasaki. You seen Neo?"

"Not since you did."

"She's still not back?"

"Appears so."

The veteran scoffed, irritation masking his genuine concern. "If that jackass tried anything…"

Ichiro shook his head. While he was inclined to agree with him, he tried his best to remain neutral. "Neo will be fine. Don't forget that she's stronger than both of us combined. If anyone can defend herself, it's her."

"Tch… Even still." Soma knew his words were true. Her physical strength aside, Neo could fry him with over fifty thousand volts if he did anything that she didn't like. But that wasn't what concerned him… it was the possibility that she wouldn't.

"He can't do anything to do Neo. Even if he did have ill intent, short of anesthetizing her, there is no way that Gunter would possibly be able to -"

BANG!

Both men jumped as the entrance doors flew open, a small figure appearing in the doorway.

'Speak of the devil…'

They watched her enter the hall, looking a bit unsteady as she made her way through the doors. After only three steps, they knew something was wrong. Her balance was off and she walked with a limp. Her eyes were dazed, staring into a far off place. Alarmed, Ichiro leapt to his feet as she approached, feeling his mouth twitch as he saw her disheveled state.

But as she drew closer, they could see that Neo wasn't limping at all. She was missing a shoe. And that wasn't the only thing wrong. Her gloves were uneven, and her hair was a mess. Her dress was torn from the waistband, with fraying fabric dangling freely down her side. At the sight of them, she changed course, waltzing towards them with uneven steps.

"Soooma." She crooned, getting closer to them.

He froze, floored by the sight. He didn't know what to make of the situation, simply watching her as she made her way across the lobby. And as her eyes drifted to the side, she noticed her guardian.

"Ichi!" She exclaimed, throwing herself at him with unrestrained force. He attempted to catch her, but quickly lost his balance, collapsing back onto the couch behind him. With a grin, the New Type slowly climbed onto his lap, straddling his waist and looking down at him. "I'm baaack."

Utterly floored, Ichiro only stared. His eyes shifted, exchanging a baffled look with the other veteran as she bobbled back and forth. This was outlandish, even for her. "N-Neo, what are you doing?!"

"I missed you guys." She whined, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

"Yes, I missed you too, but what's -"

"I was sooo scared."

"What?! Scared? I don't -" Grabbing her shoulders, her guardian lifted her upright, stabilizing her.

But Neo only smiled, giggling as she looked back at him with sharp, pointy teeth. Her balance lasted for just a short moment before she leaned backwards, threatening to tumble off of him and onto the floor. Reacting immediately, Soma moved behind her, stopping her fall and sitting her up straight again. What the hell was wrong with her?

Growing agitated, Ichiro held her as she attempted to lean to the side. And as he noticed a light dust to her cheeks, he felt his temper rise. "Look at me." Lifting his hands, he freed her arms, instead holding her head carefully in place. Her eyes were unfocused, pupils blown wide, with a large, dopey grin plastered on her face. "Neo… are you drunk?"

"Hehe…" His only answer was a quiet giggle as she stared back into his angering face. "Maaaybe. Haha!"

Ichiro frowned, exchanging a look with Soma behind her. The other veteran wore a similar expression, concern etching his features. Then, her next words alarmed both of them.

"Are you gonna kiss me too?"

"What?!" Both men nearly shouted, staring at her as she burst, once again, into a fit of giggles. No. This woman was beyond drunk. She was absolutely sloshed.

"What the fuck?" Soma blanched as Neo startled chuckling again. His patience was quickly dwindling and if someone didn't give an explanation soon, he was going to go find one.

Ichiro, trying to be the voice of reason, took a deep breath to calm himself and gather his patience. Getting answers out of her was going to be challenge. "Neo. Why are you drunk? And what happened to your clothes - where is your shoe?!"

"It's all Gunter's fault." She muttered, her wide grin flipping into a frown.

"Gunter's - wait, where is he anyway?" Her guardian looked curiously around the lobby, suddenly taking note of his absence. It hadn't occurred to him until this moment that Neo had arrived alone.

"I dunno. Somewhere." She shrugged, looking lazily towards the wall.

"How can you - what does that even mean?"

"I lost him when I ran away."

"What?!" Soma's voice raised along with his temper as frustration gave way to rage. "You ran away? From who, Gunter?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Why?"

"He was trying to… I was…" Neo's disjointed explanation faded into a loud yawn as her eyes began to droop. "I'm so sleepy…"

Glowering, Ichiro lightly shook her, trying to keep her sentient. "Neo, Focus! What did Gunter try to do?"

"To take off my…" Her arm slowly lifted upward towards her chest, trembling with the effort. Her hand never reached its destination. With a tired sigh, the last of her strength left her. Slumping forward, the New Type went limp, her head resting on her guardian's shoulder as she fell fast asleep.

Around her, the empty hall was silent, both of her friends gaping at her as her chest slowly rose and fell. Neither one of them knew what to do. They didn't want to jump to conclusions, but it was growing increasingly difficult. It had been nearly impossible to decipher what the drunken woman was trying to say… and what information they could gather all pointed in one direction. A low growl rumbled deep within his chest as her guardian gripped his head. He groaned as his vision blurred, fighting to keep control. He needed to distance himself for the moment. He couldn't look at Neo in this state.

"Soma. Can you take Neo back to her room? I can't…"

"Yeah." Soma nodded, helping the other veteran peel Neo off of him. He could see the fire flickering in his eyes. Angry as he was, he didn't want to risk having an episode with anyone around him. For now, he would take the woman back to her room to give him some space and let him regain his bearings. Taking her in his arms, he strode toward the elevator with a dark expression in his eyes. This wasn't over.

. . .

In his solitude, Ichiro was finally able to calm himself, sighing as his world returned to its rightful shade. He stood from his seat and paced around the lobby to relieve his stress. As a generally patient person, he wasn't often one to make assumptions without as much information as possible. But this was threatening to push him over the edge. He had spoken with Gina. She had assured him that Gunter, while sometimes an asshole, wasn't the type of person to harm a woman.

But she had also said they were only together for a short time.

There simply wasn't enough to go on. He needed to find the other God Eater and get some answers. That was the only way to solve this dilemma. That was his plan. He would bring his stress levels down and try to find the missing God Eater. Then, he would discuss the state of affairs like a reasonable person. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to do so, his Oracle cells flaring immediately as the object of his ire drew near.

Wandering into the Den, Gunter sighed, looking nothing short of exhausted. His blonde strands stuck to his forehead and his clothes were an absolute mess. He looked ready to collapse, stumbling tiredly towards the lift. He never reached his destination.

"You!"

"Wah?!" There was no time to react as Hamasaki descended on him like a wild bull. Within seconds, he found himself pressed against the metal wall with an iron grip wrapped around his collar. "What the -"

"What did you do?" Ichiro demanded, his fist tightening as the other struggled in front of him.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Gunter shouted, far from pleased with being assaulted immediately upon his return. He wasn't in the mood for this. Not tonight. He had much more urgent matters on his mind.

"Neo! What did you do to Neo?"

Startled, Gunter scowled at him. "I didn't do anything to - wait, you found her?"

"No, she found me. She wobbled in here, shit-faced drunk, with her clothing in shambles. Then, she passed out, after citing you as the cause. Now I'll ask you again. What the hell did you do?"

The other God Eater fell silent. His expression was initially one of relief at the realization that Neo had been found. Then, it was one of confusion as he tried to make sense of the other man's ramblings. Then, it shifted to one of rage. His voice fell to a low rumble as his own temper soared toward the sky. "…Just what are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you what I saw."

Gunter was furious. Glowering, he shoved Ichiro from him, freeing himself and glaring daggers back at him. If only looks could kill. He was used to people thinking the worst of him. He had broken many a heart in his time and he wasn't always the most honorable of people. But while it was true that he had bedded many women in the Far East, every one of them had been a willing participant. To even insinuate that he would do otherwise made his blood boil. And to Neo, no less, which only made the accusation even worse. "How dare you. I would never!"

"Then what happened?!"

"I don't know!" Gunter shouted back at him.

Ichiro's entire body trembled, his vision fading once again into grey. "Gunter, so help me…"

"I told you, I don't know! We went out to eat and wandered the streets! She drank a bottle of wine, freaked out, ran off, and disappeared!"

"You gave Neo a bottle of wine?"

"No, I offered her some. I didn't expect her to down the whole thing! I tried to stop her, and she took off!"

"And you didn't go after her?"

"You don't think I tried?!"

Ichiro glared at him, taking careful note of his explanation. It definitely sounded plausible and exactly like something that the New Type would do. Neo's impulse control was abysmal. If Gunter had chosen a sweet vintage, then he could easily see her drinking the entire quantity without a single thought to the consequences. And if Neo had run away, it was doubtless that she had outpaced him. Even in her drunken state, it would be unrealistic to expect a human to keep up with her in open terrain. The two stared one another down, oblivious to the opening of the elevator doors.

The veteran crossed his arms over his chest. "And you have no idea what happened to her after that?"

"None. You know how fast she is. I tried to go after, but I couldn't catch her. I've been running all over creation trying to find her." Shaking his head, Gunter brushed his bangs from his forehead. "Look, I don't know why she freaked out the way she did, or why she ran away. But I didn't do anything to her. I never would."

Sighing, Ichiro slowly relented. "…I am going to speak with her tomorrow when she comes to her senses. And Gunter, I swear to you, if your stories don't line up…"

Gunter paused, his own gaze wavering as he felt a sinister presence lurking behind him.

"… you will have to deal with us both."

Turning, Gunter was startled to find Soma standing there, eyes following his every motion. He was familiar with this God Eater, or more specifically, with the stories of his prowess… and his origins. Half Aragami, he was known as the first of their kind. Along with taking great joy in getting on his nerves, he was a moody, short-tempered loner who was permanently in a foul mood. But tonight, he looked nothing short of murderous.

But Gunter couldn't be bothered to concern himself with him at the moment. He was far too upset. He had been assumed many things throughout his God Eating career in the branch: a player, an asshole, self-absorbed, and conceited… but never a rapist. He would throw a punch at both of them if it wouldn't likely end with his demise. The pair had already, in so many words, threatened to tear him limb from limb. And one of them, he was certain, literally could. For now, he would cool off, taking solace in the fact that Neo was safe.

. . .

Far East Branch - Veteran's Floor

In the darkness of night, a small form wandered slowly out of her room. After having a nightmare, Neo awoke from her slumber in a restless state, her body feeling light and unsteady. Still far from sober, the New Type was having trouble standing upright as she wobbled her way through the empty halls. Using the wall for support, she slowly made for the stairwell, climbing to the veteran's floor. Reaching her destination, she was confused and annoyed to find that the door was locked.

Frowning, she focused, channeling her Oracle cells as best she could in her listless state. Placing her hand against the control, she discharged her energy and shorted the lock. As a thin line of smoke rose from the console, she winced. It seemed that she had overcharged, frying the circuits entirely. Ichiro was not going to be pleased. But she would worry about that in the morning. Wandering into his room, she stumbled, nearly tripping over the foreign objects on the floor. When had her guardian become so messy? Neo didn't know.

Following the sound of steady breaths, she slowly padded her way towards the bed.

. . .

**AUTHOR'S NOTE**

New costume unlocked!

Neo's outfits: h-t-t-p-s-:-/-/imgur -.-c-o-m /a/oRN8qWj